A new Automated Border Control solution has been inaugurated at the Varna and Burgas International Airports by the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior. Any passengers holding electronic machine-readable travel documents, citizens of EU, EEA and Switzerland over 18 years may now enjoy a seamless border crossing experience in both airports. The associated contract is co-financed Â by the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior and EU, under Action 5 â€“ â€ťEstablishing automated border control for EU citizensâ€ť, Annual Program 2012-2013 of the External Borders Fund.

Accounting respectively for an estimated traffic of more than one and two million passengers per year, Varna and Burgas International Airports, the busiest in the country after Sofiaâ€™s, are now using Vision-BoxÂ®â€™s latest generation of Automated Border Control eGates to optimize passenger processing. The implementation of ABC technology represents a shift from the traditional border control to a new paradigm where biometric technology and self-service offer the perfect match. Passengers are in control of their own immigration process at the eGate, having their travel documents authenticated and their identity checked by way of face recognition and match against the biometrics templates embedded in the chip of the travel document (soon fingerprint will be available as well). No need to interact directly with the authorities at the border control point, which clears manual immigration lines.

Jean-FranĂ§ois Lennon, Director of Global Business Development, Sales and Marketing at Vision-BoxÂ® believes thatÂ«In modern airports like Varna and Burgas, facing constantly increasing flows at the border, it is imperative to embrace new technologies that concede the traveler more control and better convenience during his journey, while delivering the most efficient and effective tools to the Border Control Authorities to increase their capacityÂ». He added Â«Vision-BoxÂ® vb i-matchÂ® 5 offers a complete passenger experience package, combining intuitive and user-friendly interfaces with instructional animations and quick proactive adjustments to each traveler, which will make security processes less time-consuming and the Bulgarian Airports more welcoming and attractive for travelers. Everyone benefits!Â».

In fact, this means a clear improvement of the experience felt not only by the passengers who use the airports, but also by the Border Control authorities. Instead of following the traditional manual verification, more vulnerable to errors, Border Control officers are now taking advantage of highly dependable technology and transferring their focus to security procedures with greater added-value. Having real-time access to all processes happening at the eGates, by means of a fully integrated software platform, they overrule the system and act only in case of any issue is detected by the eGates (i.e. fraudulent Passport, unruly passengerâ€¦).

Furthermore, this single-sourced ABC solution is strengthening the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior with a self-integrated software platform, including improved levels of document authentication and biometric verification, supported by an advanced passenger monitoring application, which delivers relevant operational and analytical information to border authorities, help them reduce errors, correctly assess security risks and effectively monitor who enters and exits the country.

As for future developments, fingerprint will be activated to complement facial verification, making it the first multimodal biometric solution implemented in the Balkans! Meanwhile, Burgas Airport will expand the solution, adding more eGates to expedite passenger processing during 2015.

To better support the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior, Vision-BoxÂ® has celebrated a partnership with a national experimented, well established technology and service-driven company called Printec, which is providing local support services.

Recently opened and already a reference for innovation and passenger experience in the whole of the Middle East, Hamad International Airport is now the airport with one of the largest deployments of ABC eGates in the world.

The new ground-breaking Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Qatar was designed with customer experience to the fore. The result is a world-class facility, where the concept of hospitality underpins everything. Unsurprisingly, a seamless, memorable passenger journey was also the motto for the implementation of a state-of-the-art Border Control process at the Airport. Vision-BoxÂ®, leader in Automated Border Control solutions and expert in Passenger Experience, was contracted by the NDIA Steering Committee as the partner in charge of one of the largest deployments of eGates in one single airport.

The 62 vb i-matchÂ® eGates are already in use at the HIA, operated by Vision-BoxÂ®â€™s front-end Border Control application, the vb inspectorÂ®, and totally integrated with the advanced Identity Management Infrastructure of the Ministry of the Interior of the State of Qatar, ensuring the highest levels of security and efficiency.

The Vision-BoxÂ® eGates were exclusively designed to meet the Hamad International Airport performance and meticulous design requirements. The multimodal capabilities allow for the use of face, iris and fingerprint as biometric identifiers. They ensure a speedy passage time with maximum accuracy, offering state-of-the-art Automated Border Control to several different traveler profiles, while making sure that the border is secure and that the passenger has a pleasant experience.

Jean-FranĂ§ois Lennon, Director Global Business Development, Sales & Marketing at Vision-BoxÂ®, emphasizes that this implementation represents one of the largest deployments of multimodal ABC eGates in the world, and on a single airport. Vision-BoxÂ® feels honored to be part of this world premiere airport project. â€śThe Middle-East continues to represent an enormous potential. Weâ€™ve been witnessing an outburst of initiatives by Governments, Airports, Airlines and private sector adopting digital identity as a means to improve security and efficiency, and also to provide value-added services to their citizens. We look forward to further contributing to their success, both through on-going Identity Management programs and other GCC initiatives, by continuously delivering stunning innovation and investing in local resourcesâ€ť.

The Danish Government has awarded the consortium of Biometric Solutions and Vision-Box a four-year framework agreement for the procurement of biometric-based solutions and components for both Enrolment and Automated Border Control. Under this agreement the consortium will deliver biometric equipment and related services to, among others, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

According to Vision-Box, the Danish Government aims to use the agreement to improve processes related to citizenâ€™s electronic identity. The biometric technology provided by the consortium will be used in several Ministriesâ€™ missions for Danish citizen and foreignersâ€™ enrolment for passport, visa and residence permits.

The Danish Government will use Vision-Boxâ€™s portfolio of advanced Identity Management solutions. One of the key parts of the whole solution will be a portable biographic and biometric enrolment and verification solution, the vb e-pass portable, an all-in-one unit that collects a citizenâ€™s face and fingerprint biometric data, as well as their digital signature. According to Vision-Box, the versatility and size of vb e-pass portable are the key drivers for multiple applications, including extra mobility in citizen identification and enrolment, and enhanced security checks across the country.

The Danish Government has awarded the consortium of Biometric Solutions and Vision-BoxÂ® with a 4-year framework agreement on the procurement of biometric-based solutions and components for both Enrollment and Automated Border Control. Under this agreement the consortium will deliver biometric equipment and related services to, among others, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

By means of this framework agreement, the Danish Government intends to improve processes related to citizenâ€™s electronic identity. The biometric technology provided by the consortium will be used in several Ministriesâ€™ missions for Danish citizen and foreignersâ€™ enrollment for passport, visa and residence permits.

The Danish Government will thus be able to benefit from Vision-BoxÂ®â€™s large portfolio of advanced Identity Management solutions. One of the key parts of the whole solution will be a portable biographic and biometric enrollment & verification solution, the vb e-passÂ® portable, anall-in-one unit that collects a citizenâ€™s face and fingerprint biometric data, as well as their digital signature. The versatility and size of vb e-passÂ® portable are the key drivers for multiple applications, including extra mobility in citizen identification and enrollment, and enhanced security checks across the country. The partner, Biometric Solutions, will contribute with its existing Enrollment portfolio, already deployed at Danish embassies and municipalities to enroll citizens in accordance with applicable rules and regulatory requirements.

â€śWe look forward to working with the Danish Government, and our partner Biometric Solutions, to provide the best citizen experience ever. For that, we are committed to providing state-of-the-art technology, designed to offer more efficient and convenient services related to Electronic Identity.â€ť, says Jean-FranĂ§ois Lennon, Director of Global Business Development, Sales & Marketing at Vision-BoxÂ®.

Alex Ramskov Johannsen, CEO of Biometric Solutions, declares: â€śWe are very happy that our collaboration with Vision-Box will help government institutions raise their service level for citizens around the world, while at the same time strengthening the security measures protecting citizens’ personal data.â€ť

With this agreement, effective since February 2014, the two companies are consolidating their position in this region of the globe, where Vision-BoxÂ® has been the market leader for some years, with a strong presence in The Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Latvia and Estonia, while Denmark is the native territory of Biometric Solutions.

The solution designed by Vision-BoxÂ® is already being tested in the new terminal and will be installed in the international terminals by the end of August.

Brazilian passengers from GRU Airport – SĂŁo Paulo International Airport – in Guarulhos may soon enjoy an innovative process of immigration, which will streamline the flow of people and reduce waiting times. In August, Terminals 2 and 3 in Guarulhos (the latter opened on May 11th) will receive the latest Automated Border Control technology, which will allow passengers to control their own immigration and emigration processes autonomously, without the need to interact directly with the Brazilian Federal Police, provided they have a Brazilian electronic passport and are over 18 years old.

How does it work? As an alternative to the traditional and manual control of passports, the passenger can go directly to one of the eGates installed by Vision-BoxÂ®, through which they will only pass if the passport is authentic, if the passenger that is using it the real passport holder, and, finally, if the person can actually travel (e.g. has no criminal record prohibiting the trip). This is possible by way of advanced technology that allows for the verification of the authenticity of identification documents, as well as for the facial recognition of the passenger. The whole process is controlled remotely by the Federal Police, which will only intervene if any anomalies occur, thus freeing them for truly risky situations.

Working in self-service mode, the vb i-matchÂ® 5 e-Gates focus on user experience, with clear instructions, intuitive interfaces and automatic adjustments to each passenger (e.g., its height), capturing their facial image according to international quality standards such as ICAO. The process takes no more than a few seconds, which means a faster and less stressful experience for the passenger.

“Improving the passengerâ€™s experience and the levels of security are priorities for the administration of the GRU Airport.”, says the Airportâ€™s IT director, Luiz Ritzmann. “With the growth of demand recorded in the last decade in Brazil, the Airport infrastructure will increasingly require cutting-edge technology and optimized processes, which will streamline the flow of passengers in different areas (check-in, X-ray security, immigration and emigration control, customs and baggage claim). In this context, it is urgent to invest in the modernization of systems and equipment. And thatâ€™s what we are doing in Guarulhos”, Ritzmann explained.

The solution, designed by Vision-BoxÂ® and customized to meet the challenges of the largest airport in Latin America, is already installed in a proof of concept stage at Terminal 3.Leidivino Natal da Silva, Managing Director of Vision-BoxÂ® Latin America, states that “It is a privilege to be part of a project of this size and relevance for Brazil. The GRU Airport is facing the enormous challenge of accommodating millions of Brazilian passengers per year! And they are responding in the best way: with more security and more innovation! Vision-BoxÂ® Automated Border Control technology will match the level of demand, giving a new momentum to this new space.”

Vision-BoxÂ® is confident in this new challenge: the company has already deployed about 500 Automated Border Control solutions and 3000 digital identity management solutions for biometric capture worldwide!

MorphoÂ andÂ Vision-BoxÂ are currently competing for a contract to deploy eGates in international airports throughout Australia.

Reported in ITNews, both companies have progressed into a testing stage for a two-year $8.4 million trial of the technology.Â

Also from the ITNews report, Australia Customs awarded Morpho a contract related to eGates in 2004. This particular contract was worth $43 million and is applicable through to 2016.

Customs has reportedly received money to get software up to speed with the new eGates, and once funding for full-scale implementation is available, the government will be ready to kick off the new project.

The Aruba government is committed to implementing new technologies in order to improve the customer experience at the islandâ€™s airport. In support of this initiative it is holding the Happy Flow demo meeting with an aim to establish a pre-clearance situation between Aruba and The Netherlands.

Vision-BoxÂ has been selected by the committee behind this initiative for the second year in a row to trial its biometric border control technology.

At the world showroom for innovation in passenger experience in Aruba, where Europe meets the Americas, the renowned leader in biometric solutions for airport proposes a documentless traveler â€śHappy Flowâ€ť.

Airports and Airlines of reference around the world are gradually more engaged in finding ways to ensure a positive passenger experience while guaranteeing the highest standards of security and safety in airports. Vision-BoxÂ® is showing the direction this week in Aruba at the Happy Flow demo meeting, an initiative launched by the Government of Aruba intended to implement innovative technologies to improve airport experience in Arubaâ€™s airport and to establish a pre-clearance situation between Aruba and The Netherlands. The event gathers the initiativeâ€™s steering committee consisting of the Prime Minister of Aruba, the CEOs of the Schiphol Group, KLM and Aruba Airport, the Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Justice of The Netherlands, and is combined with other initiatives, such as the presentation of the first KLM biofuel flight.

For the second year, Vision-BoxÂ® was the company selected, after a rigorous tendering process, to present a live demonstration of the â€śAruba Happy Flowâ€ť, a concept that will not only improve processes in Aruba but shape the future of passenger experience in airports worldwidein the next years.

The focus of the â€śAruba Happy Flowâ€ť is to offer passengers a seamless, fast, intuitive and secure ground process through the use of the latest face recognition technology and state-of-the-art self-service equipment at every control point of the airport. But what else isso special about this concept? Jean-FranĂ§ois Lennon, Director of Global Business Development, Sales & Marketing at Vision-BoxÂ® answers: â€śThis project is indeed a revolution in the airport ecosystem. For the first time ever, biometrics is being used as the main passenger identification token in an airport. Instead of using either a passport or a boarding pass, the passenger swiftly goes through all airport control points where he simply has to have his identity checked by looking at facial recognition camerasâ€ť.

By setting up a pre-clearance process between Aruba and The Netherlands, for example if a passenger is identified as ineligible to enter the destination country or unable to fly for safety reasons, the airline will be immediately notified and be able to activate the adequate security measures. Â«Emphasis is on preventive measures, not on reactive onesÂ» explains the security specialist Jean-FranĂ§ois Lennon. And he adds: Â«The relevance of the pre-clearance initiative is world-ranging. It means these countries are building a broad-based platform for further cooperation and intelligence exchange, which will be a case study of world relevance for more cooperative, efficient and reliable border management around the worldÂ».

We wonâ€™t have to wait much longer to see the Happy Flow in a real environment. A permanent pilot project is planned to be implemented before the end of 2014, and will make Aruba the place to visit!